Latest news with #Tricky
Irish Examiner
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
McMahon return to fitness 'bang on track' for upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup
Women's International Summer Series: Ireland 26 Canada 47 Despite being marked absent for their final warm-up game against Canada at Affidea Stadium in Belfast on Saturday, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has revealed co-captain Edel McMahon is 'bang on track' to regain her fitness in time for the forthcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Clare native McMahon has been dealing with a knee issue in recent weeks and hasn't featured for Ireland since the conclusion of the Six Nations Championship last April. Yet Bemand explained in the aftermath of Saturday's game that she potentially could have played if it was a fixture of greater significance and this raises hopes that she'll be named in his official squad for the RWC on Monday morning. Irish supporters are also keeping their fingers crossed that McMahon's fellow back-row Aoife Wafer will make the cut for the tournament, even though injuries to her posterior cruciate ligament and medial cruciate ligament have severely curtailed her preparations in recent months. The Irish backroom team will be doing all they can to ensure Wafer is available for at least some of the World Cup, but Bemand acknowledged there will need to be a delicate balancing act in his final squad selection. 'There's always a balance around who you can take and what you can't. We call them salvageable injuries. 'Tricky' [Edel McMahon] is bang on track. If this was a World Cup quarter-final, 'Tricky' would have been in the mix for selection. She's well placed,' Bemand explained. 'Aoife, we said this one just came a little bit too soon. We'll continue to progress and assess. You certainly can't carry too many. We know we need a squad to get out of this competition what we want out of it. We've had to balance that in with some selections, but in the main 'Tricky' is pretty close.' 14-0 behind in the early stages of their eventual triumph against Scotland in a maiden warm-up clash at Virgin Media Park in Cork a week earlier, Ireland found themselves adrift by the same margin in Belfast on Saturday following converted opening quarter tries for Canada from Florence Symonds and Justine Pelletier. The hosts eventually opened their account when Beibhinn Parsons dotted down on 20 minutes, but with Daleaka Menin, Symonds (for her second) and Paige Farries all crossing over in clinical fashion, Canada established a commanding 26-point interval buffer. Canada full-back Julia Schell increased her side's lead with a fine finish off a breakaway move 15 minutes into the second half, before Ireland finally enjoyed a purple patch either side of the third-quarter mark. One of 10 players drafted into the Irish starting line-up for this encounter, winger Anna McGann did her chances of future selection no harm by bagging tries in the 59th and 62nd minutes. The aforementioned Parsons rounded off an extended attack on 71 minutes to join McGann in finishing the game with a brace of tries, but it was Canada who had the final say with a late converted score from Sophie de Goede. Moments after the visitors propelled themselves into a 40-7 lead at the home of Ulster Rugby, Gloucester Hartpury prop Ellena Perry was introduced off the bench for her Ireland debut. This wasn't her international bow, however, as she previously lined out on 11 occasions for England from 2018 to 2020. During this time, Bemand was part of the Red Roses backroom staff as lead coach and therefore is fully aware of what the front-row can bring to the table. A World Rugby regulation that allows players to represent a second nation after a three-year stand-down period, if they, a parent or a grandparent were born in that second nation, has paved the way for Perry to switch allegiances to Ireland through her maternal grandfather. This has opened the door for the 28-year-old to become a potential World Cup bolter and Bemand was impressed with her performance upon being introduced to the fray on Saturday. 'Since she has stepped foot on the ground, she's been brilliant. Today we've seen she can more than handle herself. She has been able to add on and off the pitch. Delighted to have gotten some time into her, so that she can put her hand up for selection,' Bemand added. Scorers for Ireland: Tries: A McGann 2, B Parsons 2 Cons: D O'Brien 3 Scorers for Canada: Tries: F Symonds 2, J Pelletier, D Menin, P Farries, J Schell, S de Goede Cons: S de Goede 6 IRELAND: S Flood; B Parsons, A Dalton, E Breen (E Higgins 52), A McGann; D O'Brien, A Reilly (E Lane 66); N O'Dowd (E Perry 56), N Jones (C Moloney-MacDonald 56), L Djougang (S McGrath 71); R Campbell (E Corri Fallon 66), F Tuite; G Moore, I Kiripati (C Moloney-MacDonald 31-40 & S Monaghan h-t), B Hogan (C Boles 56). CANADA: J Schell; A Corrigan, F Symonds (S-M Lachance 68), A Tessier (S Seumanutafa 24), P Farries (O Demerchant 26-30); C Gallagher, J Pelletier (O Apps 56); M Hunt (B Kassil 52), G Boag (E Tuttosi 52), D Menin (O Demerchant h-t); S de Goede, T Beukeboom; K Paquin (P Buisa 56) (C O'Donnell 60)), C Crossley, F Forteza. Referee: A Groizeleau (France).
RTÉ News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'You can't carry too many' - Ireland set to name World Cup squad
The players already know and at 10 o'clock this morning Ireland rugby fans will know who's going on the plane to England for the World Cup. Head coach Scott Bemand spoke to reporters after Saturday's 47-26 loss to Canada in Belfast and indicated that prop Christy Haney is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury, and was non-committal on the prospects of star back row Aoife Wafer being deemed fit after knee surgery. In addition, co-captain Edel McMahon is recovering from a knee injury that kept her out of both of the warm-up games. Ireland face Japan on Sunday week in Northampton and take on Spain and New Zealand on the following Sundays. Asked about the risks of naming two currently injured back rows in the squad, Bemand admitted that a balance had to be struck. "You are dead right, there is always a balance around who you can take and who you can't, we call them salvageable injuries," he told RTÉ Sport. "'Tricky' [McMahon] is bang on track. If this was a World Cup quarter-final, 'Tricky' would have been in the mix for selection. She's well placed. "Aoife, we said this one came a little bit too soon. We'll continue to progress and assess. "You certainly can't carry too many. "Having done this before with a slightly smaller squad and the knock on of workload picked up by other people, we know we need a squad to get what we want out of this competition. "We've had to balance that in with some selections. In the main, 'Tricky's' pretty close." The addition of former England prop Ellena Perry, who qualifies through an Irish grandparent, to the training squad over the summer was an early indication that experienced front row Haney was racing against time. "Christy obviously picked up a bump with her hamstring which is a real shame for her. She worked really hard. "We're assessing as we go through. "It obviously meant we needed to bring somebody in the front row. "I've been incredibly proud and pleased with how the pathway is performing in terms of developing the likes of Sophie Barrett. "Sophie was in the conversation to bring in. Beth [Buttimer] has come in. "Ellena, obviously my previous work [with the Red Roses], I'd worked with Elle, we knew what standard she's at and it got highlighted to us that she's IQ. "So we were able to activate a process that could reach out to her, ask if she wanted to come in for an opportunity with nothing promised." On the tough conversations he's had to have with some players, Bemand (below) said that the "players have also professionalised in terms of how they handle when selections are coming over the horizon." Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he referred to the recent Lions tour in which numerous players who missed out on original selection received call-ups. "The fact that the girls are putting themselves in a position to compete for something as special as a World Cup is to be applauded," he said. "It doesn't make it not hurt if you are in a group. Those girls that won't end up getting on the plane are hugely important to us. "The competition within training couldn't have looked like it did without them. "There is a tough pill to swallow if you are not in that but anyone who has followed the Lions will have seen that you are a dead leg away from getting a call-up and should that moment happen and you are on a plane and your first game is a quarter-final of a World Cup, you've got to be ready. "They'll feel the pain rather than the happiness but we also understand we've got a job to do. "We're representing Ireland in a World Cup and we get a chance to put ourselves, our green wave on the world stage.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
"I haven't been home in four days" - Oldham Athletic fans celebrate promotion to Football League
Thousands of Oldham Athletic faithfuls were in full voice as they celebrated the club's return to the Football League. Just over 8,000 fans were at Boundary Park for their play-off final win parade this evening (June 2). Yesterday, The Latics booked their spot in League 2 in a 3-2 victory over Southend United at Wembley in the final of the National League play-offs. The win means promotion to League 2, after three years away. In 2022 the club claimed the unwanted honour of becoming the first former Premier League side to drop into non-league football. READ MORE: Two Brit gangsters shot dead outside Costa del Sol bar READ MORE: 'RIP Tricky': Tributes to Mick Martindale flood in as popular ex-rugby player named as man at centre of Oldham murder investigation The win caps a remarkable turnaround in fortunes under their new owner, charismatic local businessman Frank Rothwell, who took over the club in the summer of 2022. Around 21,000 Oldham fans made the trip to Wembley for what was their first visit to the national stadium for over 30 years, since their FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United in 1994. Following the heroics, a free party was held at Boundary Park where supporters showered the players with adoration as they made a lap around the pitch, reciprocating the love. Phil Harrop, 50, was at Wembley on Sunday, and despite being back in Oldham and at Boundary Park with his wife Nicola for the parade, he hasn't been home yet. "I bought this t-shirt on Wednesday, and I thought I better wear it because I might never wear it again after Sunday. I've had it on for four days now." He explained to the M.E.N. "I went to London, stayed in Watford, went to the game, drove back from Watford, went to the Fox and Pine in Oldham and then I came straight here. "This means so much to the town. It means so much for anybody who bothers to support Oldham Athletic." Adam Kershaw was also at Wembley with his family, he told the M.E.N: "I just wanted to have a day out at Wembley. I just wanted to experience that with my son and wife. "It was the best feeling in the world walking down Wembley Way with your eight-year-old lad, honestly, the best feeling in the world. "He's only ever known us in non-league so it felt special. It was kind of a big two fingers up to his mates who support United and City. "He went into school this morning with a scarf, bragging about how he's been to Wembley." Jack Lusty, 29 and his mate Liam Paull, 30, could barely speak with their voices still recovering from the weekend. Nonetheless, they stressed how important the win was for the town. Liam said: "We've been nothing since I've started supporting Oldham, it's been thirty years of misery. "I didn't cry when my child was born, but I shed a few tears. When we won, I was full of tears! "What's massive about the win is, if you look around, it's the amount of children. All they know is that Oldham have just done that. These children will be coming here now instead of City or United." "No one will understand the journey we've been on to get that moment." Added Jack. "That's what makes it so special. "Hopeful it's the first of many now and we're back on our way up."
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Facing a broken economy, Ghana's tech-savvy teens turn to fraud
From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight Image: Supplied In the dusty alleys of Nima, a shanty town in the heart of Ghana's capital, a 17-year-old called Ghost reclines on a faded plastic chair inside a dimly lit internet cafe. Outside, barefoot children chase a punctured football. Inside, Ghost's fingers dance across the keyboard, his eyes locked on WhatsApp as he engineers a phishing scam that could earn him thousands of cedis in just a few hours. "I made GHC12,000 ($770) last month," Ghost told AFP, his voice low and calculated, describing an online store he set up on Instagram. "People bought phones and laptops. None of it existed." Ghost, a pseudonym he gave AFP, is one of a growing number of Accra's teenagers turning to cybercrime to survive in a country mired in economic crisis, battling both youth unemployment and broken dreams. From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight -- anywhere with a stable internet connection. Too good to be true Nima's 441 neighbourhood is a tightly packed, working-class community of corrugated iron housing and open drains. Opportunities are scarce -- but mobile phones are not. Ghana's Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has raised the alarm over a surge in cyberfraud, with financial losses tallying $282,776 between January and March 2025, nearly doubling the $154,241 recorded during the same period in 2024. Officials warn that youth-led scams, powered by social media and peer pressure, are driving the spike. Phishing scams, brand impersonation and fake online shops dominate the scene, with teenagers posing on Snapchat and TikTok as vendors with offers that are too good to be true. Mercy Adumoah, 20, was one such victim. "I saw a page on Snapchat selling heels. I needed a pair for an event, so I paid without thinking twice," she recounted. After they received the money, the sellers blocked her account. Experts say these crimes have become systemic in a country with a battered economy that is still recovering from a 2023 debt default. Inflation shot above 54 percent in 2022 and has remained above 20 percent into 2025. At a junior high school near Nima, teacher Mohammed Inusah has witnessed a transformation. "Some of my students have iPhones more expensive than my salary," he told AFP. "They flaunt cash, buy designer clothes and sneakers." "The parents are either unaware or too afraid to confront them." 'I know it's wrong' A soft-spoken boy with a mop of dreadlocks who gave the name Tricky said he got his start in scamming by copying scripts from online forums in Nigeria. Later, his cousin taught him mobile money fraud -- how to pose as an agent from the local telecom company to get access to people's accounts. Tricky claims his biggest hit since in his two years of scamming was $500 -- twice the monthly salary of a public health nurse or a teacher. "I bought clothes, helped my mum pay rent," he said. "I know it's wrong, but tell me, what else can I do?" The CSA has also flagged a dramatic rise in online investment fraud. Between January and August 2024 alone, 149 cases were recorded with losses nearing $128,534. "I fell for one," admits 18-year-old "Bronzy", who went from victim to perpetrator. "A guy scammed me using a fake forex trading site. So I learnt the game." He now runs a group on Telegram promising 20 percent weekly returns. "People invest and I disappear," he said. Abubakar Issaka, president of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, said the situation is only getting worse. "The regulations exist... but enforcement is weak. The number of professionals is not growing fast enough to match the fraud cases," he said. Tracing perpetrators "is a challenge due to poor data integration" between telecoms operators and the national ID database, he added. In some cases, the phone numbers used in frauds "belong to people who died years ago. Fraudsters are steps ahead." No end in sight Victims suffer anxiety and financial ruin. Scammers are not untouched. Ghost admits he's often afraid. "Sometimes, I can't sleep. I wonder if the police will knock. But when I see my friends living large, I feel like I must keep going." As dusk settles over Nima, Ghost logs off, pockets his burner phone, and steps into the fading light. He didn't make any money that day. His world is one of quick, fickle wins and quiet fear. But with Ghana's economy showing no signs of rapid recovery, many more are likely to follow him into the shadows. AFP
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Ghana's tech-savvy teens turn to fraud
In a broken economy, many young people in Ghana with smartphones are tuning in to digit fraud and scams. In the dusty alleys of Nima, a shanty town in the heart of Ghana's capital, a 17-year-old called Ghost reclines on a faded plastic chair inside a dimly lit internet cafe. Outside, barefoot children chase a punctured football. Inside, Ghost's fingers dance across the keyboard, his eyes locked on WhatsApp as he engineers a phishing scam that could earn him thousands of cedis in just a few hours. "I made GHC12 000 (R14 000) last month," Ghost said, his voice low and calculated, describing an online store he set up on Instagram. "People bought phones and laptops. None of it existed." Ghost, a pseudonym, is one of a growing number of Accra's teenagers turning to cybercrime to survive in a country mired in economic crisis, battling both youth unemployment and broken dreams. From mobile money fraud to investment scams, a murky digital underworld is sucking in minors, many working from their bedrooms or small kiosks operating in plain sight - anywhere with a stable internet connection. Nima's 441 neighbourhood is a tightly packed, working-class community of corrugated iron housing and open drains. Opportunities are scarce - but mobile phones are not. Ghana's Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has raised the alarm over a surge in cyberfraud, with financial losses tallying $282 776 between January and March 2025, nearly doubling the $154 241 recorded during the same period in 2024. Officials warn that youth-led scams, powered by social media and peer pressure, are driving the spike. Phishing scams, brand impersonation and fake online shops dominate the scene, with teenagers posing on Snapchat and TikTok as vendors with offers that are too good to be true. Mercy Adumoah, 20, was one such victim. "I saw a page on Snapchat selling heels. I needed a pair for an event, so I paid without thinking twice," she recounted. After they received the money, the sellers blocked her account. Experts say these crimes have become systemic in a country with a battered economy that is still recovering from a 2023 debt default. Inflation shot above 54 percent in 2022 and has remained above 20 percent into 2025. At a junior high school near Nima, teacher Mohammed Inusah has witnessed a transformation. "Some of my students have iPhones more expensive than my salary," he said. "They flaunt cash, buy designer clothes and sneakers. The parents are either unaware or too afraid to confront them." A soft-spoken boy with a mop of dreadlocks who gave the name Tricky said he got his start in scamming by copying scripts from online forums in Nigeria. Later, his cousin taught him mobile money fraud - how to pose as an agent from the local telecom company to get access to people's accounts. Tricky claims his biggest hit since in his two years of scamming was $500 - twice the monthly salary of a public health nurse or a teacher. "I bought clothes, helped my mum pay rent," he said. "I know it's wrong, but tell me, what else can I do?" The CSA has also flagged a dramatic rise in online investment fraud. Between January and August 2024 alone, 149 cases were recorded with losses nearing $128 534. "I fell for one," admits 18-year-old "Bronzy", who went from victim to perpetrator. "A guy scammed me using a fake forex trading site. So I learnt the game." He now runs a group on Telegram promising 20 percent weekly returns. "People invest and I disappear," he said. Abubakar Issaka, president of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Ghana, said the situation is only getting worse. "The regulations exist... but enforcement is weak. The number of professionals is not growing fast enough to match the fraud cases," he said. Tracing perpetrators "is a challenge due to poor data integration" between telecoms operators and the national ID database, he added. In some cases, the phone numbers used in frauds "belong to people who died years ago. Fraudsters are steps ahead." Victims suffer anxiety and financial ruin. Scammers are not untouched. Ghost admits he's often afraid. "Sometimes, I can't sleep. I wonder if the police will knock. But when I see my friends living large, I feel like I must keep going." As dusk settles over Nima, Ghost logs off, pockets his burner phone, and steps into the fading light. He didn't make any money that day. His world is one of quick, fickle wins and quiet fear. But with Ghana's economy showing no signs of rapid recovery, many more are likely to follow him into the shadows. | AFP
